Rensvold Selected As Stampede Grand Marshal
Volunteer Representative
When Ted Rensvold was called and notified that he was selected as grand marshal for this summer’s Wolf Point Wild Horse Stampede, he delivered a very modest answer.
“No” was his reply. “There are a lot more people that deserve that.”
Rensvold, however, was overruled as he was told that the Stampede committee was in total agreement about Rensvold being grand marshal.
Many others would agree that Rensvold is a great choice. After that, he served for 45 years on the stadium committee starting in 1980.
Achievements by the stadium committee during that time included the construction of a concessions stand to replace little structures that sold different items.
“It’s probably one of the best designed concessions building like that,” Rensvold said. “We can serve a lot of people very quickly.”
After years as the concessions manager, Rensvold retired after last year because his hips suffered from the stand’s concrete floor. His duties included helping order food and supplies. He is grateful for the amount of volunteers who have worked at the concessions stand each year.
“Some of those people down there have done the same job for many years,” Rensvold said He noted volunteers are what makes the Stampede such a great success.
“The whole Stampede from the parade to concessions and everything else counts on volunteers,” he explained. “I’m a representative for all those volunteers. It’s really amazing how many people help.”
Rensvold has been an asset to the community as a volunteer not only for the Stampede but in other areas as well.
He served as exalted ruler for the Wolf Point Elks Lodge on three different terms during the 1990s.
“I liked the whole social life,” Rensvold said of the Elks. “A lot of people would pitch in to make it go.”
He also enjoyed Elks providing scholarships to local students “and promoting Wolf Point” with dances and other events at the lodge.
In addition, Rensvold also was a helping hand for the Optimist Club of Wolf Point. He laughs that he was the “hey boy” as other members would ask him to perform various duties.
Giving back to the community came natural to him. He was raised on a farm north of Wolf Point and fondly remembers attending Stampedes as a youngster.
As he got older, Rensvold really appreciates the rodeo although he has been too busy to watch a huge amount of events. “Last year was the first time in 40 years that I watched an entire rodeo and wasn’t in the concessions stand.”
His favorite rodeo event is bronc riding. “On the farm, I got bucked off two horses,” Rensvold laughed. “It’s fun to watch guys who can actually hold on.”
As far as another type of riding, Rensvold isn’t overly excited about being in the spotlight during the parade. But he notes that he’s just one volunteer of many great ones in the community.
“It’s a way to say thank you to all the volunteers,” Rensvold said of being part of the parade.
